A
Soilless Growing System
The Air Farm is a simple soilless growing system. It consists
of a 2 gal. square pail with sealing lid, a solenoid operated
air pump, some hose and an aquarium airstone. The top has nine
holes stamped in it to accommodate 2" plastic net pots.
The growing medium is an expanded clay pellet called Grorox,
but also accepts 1 1/2" rockwool cubes. Each grower measures
10" x 10" x 8"high without the trellis. They can
be used without the trellis for annuals, perennials or vegetables
that don't require support.

Operation

The
plants or seeds are planted in the net pots in the Grorox. Air
is pumped through a tube to an airstone submersed in the nutrient
solution. This creates bubbles in the solution. The plants are
fed in three different ways:

1. As the lid is a sealing lid, the air pump creates positive
atmospheric pressure in the tank. This escapes through the Grorox,
carrying nutrient soaked air up through the rocks.
2. Once the roots grow into the airspace between the pots and
the solution, the bursting bubbles bathe the roots in solution.
3. Eventually the roots grow into the solution. At that point
their need is for air, and the airstone oxygenates the solution.

As the air pump operates at 4 watts, it is a very economical
system. They operate twenty four hours, seven days a week for
pennies. Air Farms operate for less than a penny a day. With
the addition of one fluorescent fixture, they operate at under
$.15 / day. It can produce 9 heads of lettuce per month
at a cost of $.48 / head with lighting or $.04 / head without.
Compare this to supermarket prices of over $2.00 for hydroponic
lettuce, or even $1.29 for iceberg lettuce, and you'll see how
the Air Farm will pay for itself in under five months.

The plants require less care, watering, and worry than their
dirtbound cousins. Weather is no longer a factor, disease, insect
and animal pests are less likely. The plants are easily portable
and yield greater amounts in smaller spaces. Imagine having fresh
tomatoes, peas and beans in the dead of winter. All of this in
3 sq. ft. of space.

For planting annuals or perennials, the Air Farms work beautifully
without the cages.

This is an indoor system, and as such, your vegetable crops will
continue to yield beyond their outdoor seasons. In our lab we
have a four month old pea plant that is still producing delicious
peas and we expect it to yield through summer with air conditioning.
In the fall, we'll start new plants and harvest fresh produce
all winter.